A SURVEY carried out by the Chamber of Commerce has revealed that many firms believe young people do not have the skills required in the workplace.

The organisation surveyed 3,000 companies across the country with nine out of 10 saying youngsters were not job ready when they leave school.

Across Swindon it has been acknowledged that this is a problem but there is now a shift towards providing students with skills and not just exam results.

Among them is the new University Technical College, which not only has a curriculum put together by businesses but also looks to imitate the working day.

Principal Angela Barker-Dench said: “We are working hard to make sure our students are job ready. They have to dress smartly and the hours are far more representative of what they would have to work in the outside world.

“Some have struggled to adapt but gradually everyone is getting used to it.

“The other thing is we have a curriculum that is focused around what local firms want.

“In the first few weeks we have had people from Network Rail and Thames Water come in to give students an idea of what is required.

“Exam results are important because as parents you want your child to get good grades but there are factors which should be taken into account.

“We are slowly getting there but I think there is still too much focus on exam results from government.”

In recent years there has been a much larger take up of apprenticeships, were people can work with an employer as they are doing their course.

Swindon College works with a variety of businesses, including Honda, to help people get valuable experience.

Evelyn Little, director of Employer Responsiveness, said: “What has happened at schools and colleges is curriculums have had to cram in so much.

“Over the last three or four years there has been a major turnaround in this. Confidence building and other skills are now a lot more important.

“We also work with NEETs and other young people who have recently been made unemployed and short, sharp courses that help them give them skills which employers are looking for.”

The Swindon branch of the Chamber of Commerce endorsed the findings of the survey and said it was working to help improve the situation.

A spokeswoman said: “Work-place skills are high on the agenda and we are working with employers and education to debate this important issue including in Swindon.”